Department of Ecology, Biogeochemistry and Environmental Protection, Institute of Botany, Wrocław University, ul. Kanonia 6/8, 50-328, Wrocław, Poland.
Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Department of Environmental Science, Radboud University, Huygens Building, Heijendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 2022 May;82(4):506-519. doi: 10.1007/s00244-022-00928-5. Epub 2022 Apr 9.
The Sudetes are remarkable for the variety and number of peat bogs which receive nutrients via precipitation from atmospheric deposition as the only source of minerals. As this type of peat bogs with a very low buffering capacity is affected in the Sudetes by long-range exhausts from the former Black Triangle, strong response to atmospheric contamination may be expected. Therefore these peat bogs are highly suitable for bioindication purposes. As a result, metal levels in peat and plants should be controlled to evaluate potential ecological damage and to devise treatment strategies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in species from different plant functional types (PFTs): shrubs, evergreen dwarf shrubs, deciduous dwarf shrubs, tussock sedges, non-tussock sedges, forbs, Sphagnum mosses, brown mosses, liverworts, and algae collected from peat bogs of the Izera, Karkonosze, and Bystrzyckie Mountains. PFTs of the Karkonosze peat bogs situated above the upper forest line contained higher metal concentrations than those of the Izera and Bystrzyckie peat bogs from lower altitudes and surrounded by forests. Of all PFTs, the algae Zygogonium ericetorum accumulated the highest levels of Fe, Pb, and Zn. The PFTs of Sphagnum mosses were also very effective bioindicators of Cd, Cr, Fe, Hg, and Pb deposition to peat bog ecosystems. Pb, Fe, and Cr found in the examined vascular PFTs originated from atmospheric deposition. The results showed that airborne contaminants, including the ones connected with long-range transport, can make a significant contribution to a load of trace metals in peat bogs located above the upper forest line. These airborne depositions facilitate better recognition of the transport of contaminants carried over great distances and should be taken into account in monitoring and environmental protection programs. In particular, the results, first of all, show the differences in the bioaccumulation of metals in PFTs and their response to trace metal levels in such habitats. Of all PFTs, algae and Sphagnum mosses were the best choices for bioindication of trace metal pollution in ombrotrophic mountain mires. PFTs have not been used so far for investigating ombrotrophic mountain mires in Europe. Thus results of this investigation could be extended to this type of peat bogs in the mountains of Central Europe for better selection of PFTs for bioindication purposes.
苏台德地区以其丰富多样的泥炭沼泽而闻名，这些泥炭沼泽通过大气沉降接收养分，而大气沉降是矿物质的唯一来源。由于这种缓冲能力极低的泥炭沼泽受到前黑三角地区长距离排放物的影响，因此大气污染的强烈反应是可以预期的。因此，这些泥炭沼泽非常适合生物指示用途。因此，应该控制泥炭和植物中的金属水平，以评估潜在的生态破坏并制定处理策略。本研究的目的是评估来自不同植物功能类型（PFT）的物种中的 Cd、Cr、Cu、Fe、Hg、Mn、Ni、Pb 和 Zn 浓度：灌木、常绿矮灌木、落叶矮灌木、丛生莎草、非丛生莎草、草本植物、泥炭藓、棕色苔藓、地钱和藻类，这些物种均来自伊泽拉、卡尔卡诺日采和比斯特里茨基山脉的泥炭沼泽。位于上森林线以上的喀尔巴阡山脉泥炭沼泽的 PFTs 比来自较低海拔地区和森林环绕的伊泽拉和比斯特里茨基山脉泥炭沼泽的 PFTs 含有更高的金属浓度。在所有 PFTs 中，藻类 Zygogonium ericetorum 积累了最高水平的 Fe、Pb 和 Zn。泥炭藓 PFTs 也是 Cd、Cr、Fe、Hg 和 Pb 沉积到泥炭沼泽生态系统的非常有效的生物指示物。在被检查的维管 PFTs 中发现的 Pb、Fe 和 Cr 来源于大气沉降。结果表明，空气中的污染物，包括与远距离传输有关的污染物，可显著增加位于上森林线以上的泥炭沼泽中的痕量金属负荷。这些空气沉积有助于更好地识别长距离传输的污染物的传输，应在监测和环境保护计划中加以考虑。特别是，这些结果首先表明了 PFTs 中金属的生物积累以及它们对这些栖息地中痕量金属水平的响应存在差异。在所有 PFTs 中，藻类和泥炭藓是指示富营养山区沼泽中痕量金属污染的最佳选择。迄今为止，PFTs 尚未用于研究欧洲的富营养山区沼泽。因此，本研究的结果可以扩展到中欧山区的这种泥炭沼泽，以更好地选择 PFTs 用于生物指示目的。
